Premedical student checklist

Year one

  • Meet with pre-health advisor to discuss overall pre-medical curriculum.
  • Begin prerequisite coursework—typically begins with the Biology and/or the General (inorganic) Chemistry sequence.
  • Become involved in pre-health organizations and extracurricular activities on campus.
  • Gain clinical experience in health fields through shadowing, volunteer, employment (i.e., CNA, EMT), and keep records of your experiences.
  • Seek out service opportunities with the underserved (e.g., Community HealthCorps VISTA, Peace Corps, Community Health Center volunteer, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, etc.).

Year two

  • Meet with pre-health advisor to discuss coursework, activities, and make plans for the MCAT exam.
  • Continue prerequisite coursework—typically Organic Chemistry sequence and/or Physics sequence.
  • Continue to gain clinical experience.
  • Build relationships with professors, advisors, and medical professionals—they are future sources for evaluations and letters of support.
  • Attend Health Professions fairs in your area to learn more about schools of interest.
  • Stay involved in pre-health organizations and continue community service work—look for leadership opportunities.
  • Continue to keep records of experiences.

Year three - fall

  • Consult with pre-health advisor regarding letters of evaluation (inquire about the availability of a pre-health committee).
  • Continue prerequisite coursework and courses recommended for MCAT success (e.g., Biochemistry, Psychology, Sociology, etc.).
  • Continue to gain clinical and community service experience.
  • Explore available research opportunities.
  • Stay involved in pre-health organizations, volunteer experiences, and extracurricular activities.
  • Begin serious preparation for the MCAT exam – US MCAT exam calendar
  • Begin writing personal statement—revisit and revise statement over a period of time.

Year three - spring

  • Meet with pre-health advisor to review the details of your application.
  • Contact those who will be writing evaluations and letters of support for you—give them plenty of time to write a quality letter.
  • Research medical schools that are of interest to you. Contact each school to inquire about their specific admissions criteria and, if possible, schedule a time to visit campus.
  • Continue prerequisite coursework and courses recommended for MCAT success.
  • Continue to gain clinical and community service experience. Keep records of your experiences.
  • Start the AACOMAS application process and arrange to have your transcripts sent.
  • Finalize your personal statement. Ask mentors and advisors to review your statement before making final edits.

Year three - summer

  • Apply to AACOMAS as early as possible. Applications can be submitted in June for the fall of the following year.
  • Work with evaluators to ensure letters of recommendation are submitted in a timely fashion.
  • Order all official transcripts and have them submitted to AACOMAS.
  • Release MCAT scores to AACOMAS electronically.
  • Submit secondary application materials upon receipt.
  • Periodically contact each school to verify your application status
  • Continue work in the clinic and in the community. Document your experiences.
  • Prepare for upcoming interviews. Complete a mock interview, if possible. Ask pre-health advisor and other mentors for feedback and advice on interviewing.
  • Continue to complete prerequisite coursework. If possible, enroll in upper-level science courses, such as Biochemistry and Gross Anatomy.
  • Continue to stay involved in activities such as clinical employment and/or volunteer activities, research, pre-health organizations, and community service as able.

Year four

  • If invited, participate in interviews at medical schools.
  • Continue to complete prerequisite coursework and upper-level science courses.
  • Maintain a competitive GPA.
  • Continue to stay involved in activities such as clinical employment and/or volunteer activities, research, pre-health organizations, and community service as able. Document your experiences.
  • Share news of upcoming interviews with those who helped you along the way—pre-health advisor, professors, physicians, family, and friends.
  • Complete the AACOMAS Academic Update in December to submit fall coursework.
  • Consider post-application plans, regardless of acceptance.
  • Complete the FAFSA application.
  • If you are not invited for an interview and/or are not accepted, contact those schools to request formal feedback on how to be more competitive in the next application cycle.
  • Explore other steps to increase your competitiveness (e.g., retaking the MCAT, completing additional coursework, gaining additional clinical experience).